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January 2, 2026 42 mins

Hosts Patrick Claybon, Gregg Rosenthal and Cynthia Frelund prepare for Week 18 which has massive playoff implications.

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Speaker 1 (00:04):
NFL Game Deview is a production of the NFL in
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Speaker 2 (00:12):
Everybody, Welcome to game debut. Patrick Claybon back here with
Greg Rosenthal and Cynthia Freedom. We've done it. We've done
seventeen weeks and picks. We have categorized all of it.
It is all documented, and folks are still coming and
saying we're picking better since we want the full season
of their picks corrects.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Okay, I mean, I don't know who's picking better than
this guy all season, but this week we'll test you.
Week eighteens are funky. Our team's even trying. Who knows
this separates the great pickers.

Speaker 4 (00:38):
From everyone else?

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Sure?

Speaker 4 (00:41):
Does your model know who's even playing?

Speaker 5 (00:44):
I mean to the best of the communicated information. Yes,
But then the problem is sometimes they play and then
or they start and they play like two series. Then
they sit and that makes everything crazy.

Speaker 4 (00:56):
So you know, it's a.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Great week for a lot of people who sit there
every single week saying who wants it more? This time?

Speaker 5 (01:02):
Wants it more?

Speaker 2 (01:02):
This time? It Actually we do actually matter. Greg guy
led in the picks last week, going ten and six.
He's actually won the week three times since Thanksgiving. So
Greg Rosenthal is heating up. These are our season long standings.
I've still reluctantly got the crown perch caught into the side.
Hide the bolts about there. We one hundred and sixty
five and ninety ninety seven for Greg and one sixty

(01:25):
one in ninety four for Cynthia. I have come up
short a few times on this show, and by a few,
I mean every single season that I've been able to
be with this incredible duo. Someone who needs some help
might just say, Patrick, you're due for a win. Maybe
now's the time. Maybe they're saying the same for Kyle
Shanahan and the forty nine Ers.

Speaker 6 (01:44):
William's looking left, Williams looking right, Williams u turns gets
away from UF still looking still looking gout.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Peddling bus come play.

Speaker 6 (01:53):
The punames over and the forty nine Ers have won it.
They come spilling onto the field and as rock as
here at Le Guy Stadium, and the forty nine Ers
are one game away from the one seed in the NFC.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yes, just like you heard it. The playoff picture in
the NFC comes down for that one seed to the
Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco forty nine Ers, and
they will square off Saturday night in Santa Clara. The
winner clinches the NFC West plus the one seed. It's
huge who gets that honor grip.

Speaker 3 (02:32):
I think the Seahawks have been the best defense in
the NFL all season long, even better than the Houston Texans,
and that defense carries the day in a great match
of twenty seven to twenty four.

Speaker 4 (02:43):
If you remember, the forty nine Ers won it the first.

Speaker 3 (02:45):
Time round all the way back in Week one, and
watching that highlight like, I still think there could be
some magic in San Francisco, but not this Saturday night.
Riek Willan and Devin Witherspoon and Julian Love and Nick
Emm and Worrie they haven't been all healthy very often
at the same time this season, and now that they are,
I think you and Love is committed the extra little

(03:07):
something special on top of everything. Who can take advantage
of the opposition's mistakes and brock Perdy's decision making has
been great. But we're not sure about Trent Williams in
this game. I think he could be under pressure, maybe
one too many aggressive throws that the Seahawks pickoff.

Speaker 5 (03:24):
I have Seahawks winning as well. I have one fewer
point than you. Twenty six to twenty four is my number.
And I want to talk about somebody that Caleb Williams
showed us against this defense, and it's what happens when pieces,
even more pieces, i should say, of the defense are missing.
They play a ton of nickel, they play a ton
of Cover four. What does cover four mean? Well, obviously,

(03:46):
it's a zone concept where you have different assignments basically,
and the difference between a Robert Salah zone versus other
people is that there's a lot of decisions that must
be made. So when an upton Stout goes out that
you can find areas where Luther Burden can slip in.
Upton Stout might not be playing in this one. That
Cover four and the confusion factor from that, I'm just

(04:08):
looking at that. I just wanted to show an area
where Sam Darnold's gonna have to be very very careful
because I know that they're gonna get Diamador Leonor. He
said he wanted Jackson Smith and Jake and that's what
keeps it close.

Speaker 4 (04:21):
Good luck.

Speaker 5 (04:21):
Yeah, I'm just saying that, you know, those Cover four
principles are very interesting.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's it's good to want things and to want a
competitive matchup. We're not competitive here. I have the Seattle Seahawks.

Speaker 4 (04:33):
As well, basically the same score on Switch.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
I've got the same score as Greg guess.

Speaker 4 (04:39):
We're doubting the yes.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
And it is concern because, as as Cynthia frequently notes,
Kyle Shanahan does have a relationship with revealing information that
may ultimately not necessarily be related to the lies. And
I think that's a factor that's helpful in terms of
play calling. And maybe he and Robert Sella deliver a
spectacular performance. But to talk about the players on the Seahawks.

(05:04):
The six hundred and thirty seven receiving yards for JSN,
the fourth most by twenty three year old. The three
guys ahead of him twenty twenty two, Justin Jefferson, nineteen
ninety five, Isaac Bruce and who can forget that twenty
thirteen Josh Gordon season. JSN is spectacular. I gotta go
with the Jimmy's and the Joe's in this one. And
for years that's been the forty nine ers. It's the

(05:24):
Seahawks now, guys, so we'll see.

Speaker 4 (05:26):
You just wanted to say Josh Gordon on the show.

Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, that was good, Gil, that was good as charts.
It's Tom for the feel good Story of the League
presented by Geico Brock. Perty has solved quarterbacking. Guys. He's
got ten touchdowns in the last two games. Well, we
have more or less than one and a half passing
touchdowns against Seattleson.

Speaker 5 (05:43):
I think he has more than one and a half
passing touchdowns. And we see the Dougie, which is what
that dance was. I have verification on that, which was
very important to me. But I'm looking at not necessarily
a deep throat like this one, but perhaps something smaller
to Christian McCaffrey in short yardage situations. That looks to
me like one of the easier paths for him to
score these two touchdowns. But again, we have scores in

(06:05):
the twenties, which means touchdowns, and I believe they come
through the air.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
So let's go to the other battle in the NFC.
The NFC South comes down to one game kind of.
If the Carolina Panthers win, they clinch a spot in
the playoffs, or they could lose and become Falcons fans
for the game against the Saints. As for Tampa Bay,
they need to win and they need the Falcons to lose,

(06:30):
which is something that they've had some difficulty causing personally
the past couple of seasons. So let's talk about this
Panthers Bucks game. These teams played just a couple of
weeks ago. Carolina won by three. Who do you think
wins round two, Cynthia.

Speaker 5 (06:43):
I don't feel great about it, but I have the
Bucks winning this game. I have a score of twenty
five to twenty one, which means not only do they win,
but they win by more than the number. It's all
about the short passes for me. Because Baker Mayfield not
a doctor. This is something we've established all season long.
But perhaps something ain't right because when you're looking at
what happens when he throws deep, it isn't good. But
when you look at what happens when he threw short,

(07:04):
that was where all his production came against the Dolphins.
Perhaps he's not able to step into it. I don't know.
I'm not, again, not a doctor. I did do a
little bit of time in medical school, so hey, there
you go, humble braggest Just as a side quest dropped out,
it was terrible, still have to pay for it. But
I'm looking at the opportunity for Baker Mayfield to use
those shorter passes. He has the receiving court that includes

(07:26):
Mike Evans, a Hall of Famer future Hall of Famer,
So it just feels to me. I don't again, I
don't feel good about.

Speaker 4 (07:32):
This one, but I think they win.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
I don't know what to think about this game, but
I want mess I want that Saints Falcons game on Sunday.
He decide the championship and it's Gene Deckerhoff, the great
play by play man for the Bucks. His last season,
so they're gonna send him out in style with a
win in this game. Because of some of those old
heads that Jean's been announcing for years, I'm talking about

(07:55):
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and how about some of
the new guys too. Jalen McMillan had a career high
in reception last week. We're watching Mike Evans in that
Falcons game. He's all the way back. Chris Godwin had
a couple long catches.

Speaker 4 (08:10):
A week ago.

Speaker 3 (08:11):
This is a very good receiver group and I know
it's strength and strength against the Panthers secondary, which has
some talented players. I think this is a rare team
the Bucks, who have more than what Carolina has in
the back end, they find a way to finally get
a win.

Speaker 5 (08:27):
My friend from Boston College played guard for the Bucks,
and he jumped, he fall started quite a bit. His
name was Jeremy Drubland, and I just remember the calls
because that's such a good last name. In the play
by play, I was so good.

Speaker 2 (08:38):
Anyways, Aside Jeremy and the inzo for one of those
trouble Bucks, I've got the Carolina Panthers in this one
two twenty one, because yes, everything that Cynthia and Greg
said about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is true. Down the stretch.
It has been tough for me to ignore. If it
was the slightest glimpse of early season or even mid
season Bucks, I'd be confident here. But the Panthers have

(09:00):
at least been consistent in the fact that they've been
consistently inconson. They had nothing deep against the Seahawks, but
the last Bucks game, Brice completed most of his deep
passing attempts. He was sixteen of eighteen within ten yards
the blitz, which I thought was gonna be a problem.
Then wasn't even much of a problem. I've got the
Carolina Panthers, and at least that way, Greg Jeane will
know that this will be his final game for the

(09:23):
Tampa Bay Ble.

Speaker 4 (09:23):
That's true.

Speaker 3 (09:24):
If not, they just got to wait until Sunday. We're
gonna have more on that game a little later in
the show. I'm excited to talk about it. That's the
game of the day on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (09:33):
Who's in the nfchself. It's Nomber who's eaten good? Wasented
buy Applebee's team. Mac had just five receiving yards last week.
Does he bounce back, hopefully more than five, more than
fifty nine yards in this one.

Speaker 5 (09:45):
More than five, yes, very good, fifty nine. I have
more than that as well. It's all about the number
and percentage of the team share that he already has,
which is very very high. When you're up, you're that
forty percent mark, like making history for rookies.

Speaker 4 (10:00):
You're gonna be a guy who's looked to you.

Speaker 5 (10:01):
And I think this is one of the situations where
coach can say they if not the same, hey, let's
get this guy. Offensive resie of the year in roots
to winning the game. This is how they have constructed it.
There are ways to target that secondary deep. I think
that that's a I like him to have at least
seventy yards, so more than sixty.

Speaker 2 (10:19):
All right, a bounce back game for Team MACKI and
the Panthers aren't a win and in playoff scenario. Similarly,
so are the Baltimore Ravens. And they're running back El Trectorcito.

Speaker 7 (10:29):
Derrick Henry is back in the backfield in the power
eye formation. He'll get the carry on the toss, gets
around the corner.

Speaker 2 (10:36):
He's in the.

Speaker 7 (10:37):
Twenty ten five touch down Derrick Henry and with that run,
he breaks the NFL record for the most games with
two hundred yards carrying and becomes the first NFL running
back to crest the two hundred yard mark seven times
in his career.

Speaker 2 (10:59):
And that keeps the Baltimore Ravens on the in the
hunt side of the AFC. They win this game. Yes,
it's equal to being the number one seed in terms
of space on the graphic. Our congratulations to the Ravens
for that. Also the fact that they get a game
Sunday night in Pittsburgh, a winner and take all battle

(11:19):
for the AFC North Crown the number four seed in
the playoffs as well. Loser leaves town. Well maybe if
the Baltimore Ravens lose, they they're gonna lose. They're gonna
leave town regardless because the game is the Pittsburgh Lamar
was back at practice for the Ravens this week. How
does this one go? Gread?

Speaker 4 (11:33):
It's gonna go like you dream it goes.

Speaker 3 (11:36):
It's gonna have the Ravens, the team you didn't see
coming making it to the playoffs in the end, our
super Bowl pick from before the year. Because of Derrick
Henry and everything, this running game is getting going. And
if Lamar Jackson's at practice, I like his chances of
playing in the game. But no matter who's that quarterback,
I'm taking Baltimore in this one because Derrick Henry has

(11:58):
made me believe, you know, in a higher power, you
know what I mean, Like this game happened right before Christmas.
I was brought up in a non religious household, so
I didn't have that like something greater than the sum
of their part, something to believe in. And then I
watched that performance by Derrick Henry the other night. I
believe in you Dereck Henry. There's just something about him.

(12:19):
You took me l out of Daniel Filelele and you
made this Ravens seem different.

Speaker 4 (12:23):
Let's go Ravens. I don't even follow them.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
I don't think you can well.

Speaker 5 (12:28):
I Baltimore winning by two points twenty three to twenty one.
I want to talk about the other side of the ball,
which would be Kyle Hamilton. There hasn't been a ton
of things on this defense that you can look to
and be like, hey, they are great and elite here
except for Kyle Hamilton, who was wind up everywhere, been
asked to do everything and delivered. So I'm looking at
the different things that could happen. We know that the

(12:50):
Steelers Aaron Rodgers, wants to get the.

Speaker 4 (12:52):
Ball out quickly.

Speaker 5 (12:53):
We know that their running backs are a very big key.
We know that the tight ends are a super big
key to the way that the Steelers like to operate
their offense. What does Kyle Hamilton do in all those
situations locks it down? And what does Kyle Hamilton provide them? Now?
Without DK Metcalf, they're just a better opportunity to not
let anything go behind any of the defensive backs.

Speaker 4 (13:15):
So I think.

Speaker 5 (13:17):
God likes Kyle Hamilton toy. He went to Notre Dame,
so I'm pretty sure he likes you know, I think
he likes God.

Speaker 4 (13:25):
Being representative for all everything absolutely also.

Speaker 5 (13:28):
Not God, whatever you believe. And I'm sure Kyle Hamilton
is involved in.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
That representation for all, including the blasphemy community. I've got
the twenty four to twenty win for the Baltimore Ravens.
It's difficult to underscore how big of an absence. Yeah, like,
no Dk Metcalf, easy to see, that's why you're throwing
three balls consecutively to mvs against Denzel Ward. But probably
and literally the biggest absence was Darnell Washington in this game.
He actually played three plays with a broken arm. But

(13:55):
the team rush EPA this season not worth it, Yeah,
but they need him. They go from zero point seven
and rush EPA to six Negai six point six. When
he's not on the field, they lose almost a half
a yard per carry. The success rate goes from forty
seven to forty two percent in the run game, and yeah,
the passing game. A lot of the Steelers offense looks

(14:16):
like it did against the Cleveland Browns. So I've got
Baltimore in this one, and advancing to the postseason.

Speaker 3 (14:22):
We're just getting him away that the Steelers and Mike Tomlin,
they got us right where they want us here.

Speaker 2 (14:26):
I think maybe even a significant significant portion of Steelers
fans prefer to lose the game, So I'm right there
with you, guys. Tom for Sees the Season presented by
Caesars Sports Book. As we look at the first touchdown
score odds between the Lions and the Bears, it is
Jamior Gibbs and DeAndre Swift leading the way to kyleman Nungui,
i'm on Saint Brown and Dj Moore rounding out that group.

(14:48):
Let's dive into this matchup. The Bears will win the
number two seed. With they win, the Lions are out
of the playoffs, but we know that Dan Campbell likes
to have these late season wins that they don't necessarily need,
especially against this protege a Ben Johnson. How do things go, Cynthia, I.

Speaker 5 (15:03):
Hate this result because it's just a one point win
for Chicago. My heart says it's gonna be like a
twelve point win for Chicago, but the math says twenty
four to twenty three. Let's talk about Colson Lovelin because
I like the Bears better in this matchup. He's kind
of becoming a huge factor in this offense, especially as
we've seen Romo Donze not be available. This is a

(15:25):
really important guy to keep an eye on. Good news.
He's also went to college in a great state of Michigan,
so it's good for him that he, you know, can
help out a Okay, I'm not gonna make Michigan jokes
because the Bears are just better. But ultimately I'm looking
at him going forward and he'll be a huge key
to the playoffs. Where he is on the field, the blocking,
all the different areas that he's helping out in, he

(15:46):
is really living up to the people are like, well,
is he going to be better than Tyler? Who cares?
I think eventually he who knows if he'll be better
or not than Tyler Warren. I just think he's really
good and he'll help them in the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (15:56):
A ton I went back and forth with this one.

Speaker 3 (15:58):
At first, I thought I could imagine a world where
Detroit has one last moment of glory, but then I
thought back to that Week two game and I thought.

Speaker 4 (16:06):
The Bears are going to get their revenge. They're going
to start their.

Speaker 3 (16:08):
Revenge tour of this entire division and all the teams
that have been taking them apart for years with their
old boss, Dan Campbell, at least Ben Johnson's old boss.
In that game in Week two, Jared Goff ended up
with five touchdowns. They put a fifty burger on him.
The game was a little closer than the final score
would indicate, but Dan Campbell's going for fourth downs as

(16:29):
Dan Campbell does to get that number over fifty. I
think the Lions are too good to allow a blowout.
But I think the Bears and Ben Johnson they get
they're made of the real stuff here and they want
to play the Packers next week, and so you got
to win this game, clinch that two seed, and set
up that matchup against the Packers so they can keep
destroying the NFC North.

Speaker 2 (16:51):
Well, you make a great point, Greg, and looking back
at Jared Goff having those five touchdowns in the video
of Jamiir Gibbs running down the field by himself, I've
got the Detroit Lions and whoa hi three twenty four
to twenty one. The Bears are the better team. The
Lions are hurt and sad and consider Holland feasts for
twenty twenty six, like a lot of people are this
time of year. But I'll rive with Jarrett because he's
good enough for Detroit and he's good enough for me.

(17:11):
It was back in lead two when he ripped off,
he ripped apart this defense. Greg highlighted he completed twelve
or fourteen on play action for almost two hundred yards
and two touchdowns. Sure they were dialing up the scoreboard
late because they could, and I think they could do
it again this time. And I have Dan Cambell the
Lions getting another Week eighteen win, because that's what they
do in Detroit season. Season brought to you by Caesar

(17:33):
Sports Book. New users can get their first bet matched
up to two hundred and fifty dollars win or lose.
Must be twenty one or older. See Caesars dot com
slash promos for full terms. Allen, that's a man of motion.

Speaker 8 (17:47):
Allen looks, he's back, he's firing, and it is a
complete to get who's digles win? Now there's five seconds
on the tck, but the Eagles are gonna win. He
threw up pass course secure and it wasn't even boost
Eagles puck the pressure on out there going the win.

Speaker 2 (18:08):
It wasn't pretty much. The Eagles held on for the
win last week in Buffalo. They've got the Commander's Sunday.
With a win and a Bear's loss, Philly could move
up to that number two seed. How do you see
it going, Cynthia.

Speaker 5 (18:18):
I don't think Philadelphia leaves us one to chance. I
know they're not necessarily starting everyone or playing everyone. Some
rest is going on here, but twenty six to seventeen
is where the model landed, even with all that's up
in the air. But what I'm looking for in this
game is how the running backs are being used. The
concepts are the same, even if the players are different.
I do think we see the.

Speaker 4 (18:39):
Take bigs becoming it.

Speaker 5 (18:40):
When he had two touches last week, that's awesome, But
he did have a nice game against the Commanders when
they met the first time. I just want to see
what this offense from run concepts to the passing concepts
that come off of those run concepts. I want to
see a very nicely called game against a defense that
is super vulnerable. So this is where if you're an

(19:01):
Eagles fan and you've been questioning your OC. This is
where I'm looking to see what the strategy is because
you've now known who's playing now since I don't know
whenever they made that decision, and now you need to
get them ready. This is where if you're gonna not
like your OC, don't do it like week three when
nothing really mattered. They're still in the position won the division.
Like stop being mad at him. Look at the concepts

(19:22):
now because going forwards all that matters.

Speaker 2 (19:24):
And I think an opportunity for guys to get rest
is going to be good. They can evaluate the backups,
and when the backups have played, especially Tank Bixby, things
have gone great for the Philadelphia Eagles. In fact, it
happened in a game against the Washington Commanders when he
only had four carries, but he got thirty seven yards,
including the twenty two yarder and a touchdown. That's because
Saquan was able to have success on the ground, something

(19:45):
they've been able to do better late this season. They're
not the twenty twenty four Philadelphia Eagles on the ground
by any stretch of their imagination, but what the backup said,
they can get healthy against a bad team. That's what
they did last time. I think that's what they did
this stum there.

Speaker 3 (19:58):
Yeah, they did it in Week eighteen against the Giants
a year ago. Their starting quarterback on that day was
Hannah McKee. You know who wouldn't have missed that wide
open throw like Josh Allen did at the end of that.

Speaker 4 (20:08):
Oh Tanner, Wow, one of.

Speaker 3 (20:11):
The best backup quarterbacks in the NFL when he's come in.
I mean, look at that statuesque quarterback back there. He
can see over the line of scrimmage. You don't have
any of those sorts of problems. He's really good in
terms of his decision making an okay athlete, But it's
more about the timing and the accuracy, and whether it's
been preseason or regular season or some fill in play

(20:33):
like you're seeing here against the Raider. He can run
that offense, and I think it's a good enough team
that even their backups are better than the Commander's starters.

Speaker 4 (20:43):
This is the height of disrespect that.

Speaker 3 (20:45):
You can mem us away when the Eagles aren't even
really trying to win this game.

Speaker 5 (20:50):
Are the Commanders trying to win it?

Speaker 4 (20:51):
Though?

Speaker 3 (20:52):
I mean they're trying to win as much as they've
won all year, But you're right, Josh Johnson probably starting
a quarterback, but.

Speaker 5 (20:57):
They're so banged up too. I don't think there's going
to be like play your hardest, get hurt.

Speaker 4 (21:01):
Top to bottom.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
Everybody's trying hard. Yeah, here on game Dave, you let's
look at the af seed number one seed clinching scenarios.
The Broncos win, they've got it. If the Patriots win,
they need Denver to lose. And if the Jags win,
they need losses by both other teams, the Broncos and
the New England Patriots. So let's talk about that first game,
Chargers Broncos. Denver could lock in the AFC playoffs home

(21:25):
opportunity all the way through, all the way and told
the Super Bowl. The Bolts planning to rest Justin Herbert,
But Denver's kind of been struggling lately, Greg, how do
you see things going.

Speaker 3 (21:34):
Kind of struggling is maybe overstadian a little bit, and
they're not going to be struggling after this Sunday. It's
going to be Denver winning big. Thirty one to seventeen
in terms of the number. This is one of my
favorite picks of the week because I don't think Trey
Lance and this Chargers offensive line have enough firepower to
hold up over sixty minutes. Now, Trey Lance maybe is

(21:55):
the backup version of Justin Herbert in that I think
he can make a very faulty offensive line look better,
put out some good film, and ultimately help his NFL
career because he looked good in the preseason and when
he stepped in there, it looks like a different Tray Lance.
Jim Harba is a great guy to have in your
corner if you're a quarterback. The problem is, we've seen
these Chargers starters on the offensive line.

Speaker 4 (22:17):
Can you imagine what the backups are going to look like?

Speaker 3 (22:19):
And you're gonna be playing a Broncos team that needs
this win to get the one seed. Last year in
a similar spot, the Broncos beat the Chiefs backups thirty
eight to nothing. So I think they know how to
beat another team's backups in the division.

Speaker 5 (22:33):
We have exactly the same margin. I oh wow, twenty
seven to thirteen. So you're fourteen points right? Yeah, I
thought that's what you had. Anyways, I do want to
talk about that Denver defense for a second, because you
talked about what happens against backups. I think that the
number could be lower in terms of the number of
points scored for the Chargers. I don't think the Broncos
will take their foot off of the gas. You were

(22:54):
absolutely right, But I don't think that this defensive front
is sitting here being like they need to get it
back and feeling good like that lost of the Jags
probably made him feel a little wonky. But I think
when you're looking at going forward, it's like, all right,
let's get vance. Joseph wants a job, and how do
you get a job. You go out there and you
show everybody how you take care of business, and they

(23:14):
can take.

Speaker 2 (23:15):
Care of that business and show everybody. But then I
think the game continues and maybe the Chargers get some
garbage time opportunities. I think the trade lands disrespect has
gone too far. I've got a three point Broncos win,
some late scores, and I think a lot of the
game goes to RJ. Harvey and it's a drawn out
slug fest where the Broncos get a lead and they

(23:36):
try to sit on it. Maybe there's some hilarity late
where the Chargers score, but it's a lot of points
in the division. But I do think that the Broncos
win and lock up that number one seed. But how
about a guy who's caught thirty nine passes out of
the backfield. He's number four in that season long hasn't
even started the whole season, So congratulations is a great

(23:57):
rookie year for RJ. Harvey. The game expected to be
one of the lowest scored scoring games of the week
according to our friends at Caesars. Look at the rest
as the Packers and the Vikings leading the way. Thirty
five total is especially some Clayton toone going up against
Brian Flores's defense in that one. Bringing us to the
two minute drill present Blowells Fargo Active Cash credit card.

(24:19):
Let's make some quick picks here on game debut. The
Dolphins and the Patriots New England could get the number
one seed with a win in a Broncos loss to
Trey Lanthony Chargers. Does Mike Brabels take care of their
side of that.

Speaker 4 (24:29):
I think they're gonna win.

Speaker 3 (24:30):
I think that number ten and a half is way
too big, but I think Drake may ultimately keeps that
MVP campaign going with a good final performance. He is
first or second in all the following category success right
EPA for play QBR if you want to go over
to ESPN anything you want complete like it's all happening.

(24:51):
Cynthia's making a face. I don't need the numbers to
tell me what my eyes tell me, which is a
second year quarterback is elevating all the players around him. Yes,
he's got a great coaching staff and a bunch of
teammates are underrated, but that protection has not been good,
and he's making veterans play better.

Speaker 4 (25:08):
He's making better in some money.

Speaker 2 (25:10):
Your eye is also looking at the numbers, though, so
we shout out to Greg's eido better. They tell them
some things. The Jags and the Titans. Jacksonville quinches the
AFC South with a win. They need some other people
to lose for the other thing to happen. But should
they be on upset alert here?

Speaker 5 (25:24):
No, Oh, I have a thirty to eighteen win for Jacksonville.
I want to talk about Travis dten because it's so
interesting to show how the O line really works with
the run game. In the case of the Jags, started
off strong with the run game, then the O line
took a little dip, then they figured some things out,
made some adjustments, then Trevor Lawrence started passing bet. But
the point is is all of the things working together

(25:46):
are a really good reason why. It would be hard
pressed for me to imagine. Maybe it's preable, but I
think Liam Gohen wins Coach of the Year move the
way he's made the adjustments and now taking a team
who nobody thought would win the division and here we go,
we all have them winning the division.

Speaker 4 (25:59):
I think it's Caps fanning And if the forty nine
ers went on maybe.

Speaker 5 (26:02):
I mean, if it's not one of them, there's like
five who it could be in everyone else it's just
a big ridiculous thing.

Speaker 2 (26:07):
Whatever. Yeah, we got a full AFC South week here
in Week eighteen, the Colts taking on the Texans. Houston
still has a shot at winning the AFC South. Riley
Leonard is gonna start and I would like to talk
about this game, but Greg's score is bananas.

Speaker 5 (26:21):
So what is it?

Speaker 4 (26:22):
It's twenty to four. And when you look at twenty to.

Speaker 3 (26:25):
Four and you're watching two safeties the videos, well, I'm
glad you asked that question.

Speaker 4 (26:29):
It is not two safeties.

Speaker 3 (26:31):
Actually, for the first time in the history of the NFL,
we're gonna have a one point two point conversion.

Speaker 4 (26:39):
So how the Colts get to three to four points?
They get the field goal.

Speaker 3 (26:42):
Okay, but the Texans, who only have twenty, they go
for two at one point and someone runs it back.

Speaker 4 (26:48):
No, what happens is like there's there's a bat snap.

Speaker 3 (26:52):
No, you intercept the ball, you're coming out of the
end zone. Then it gets knocked back into the end
zone and you fall on the ball.

Speaker 4 (26:59):
Oh, you get one point.

Speaker 5 (27:02):
That is like next level exception of the rules.

Speaker 4 (27:05):
Two safeties as possible. It's one or the other two safeties.

Speaker 3 (27:08):
That was Darren Henry, by the way, and Kamari Lassiter
and Jalen pe Free.

Speaker 4 (27:12):
They could all be all pros on the same team.

Speaker 2 (27:14):
I thought you were gonna go with the ninety nine
yard bad snap. Somebody gets tackled in their own in zone. Folks,
it's so confused. You get all kinds of things here.
On game debut, Party takes the snap, he turns play
action bootleg left. He's looking, he's looking.

Speaker 4 (27:27):
He pumps.

Speaker 2 (27:28):
Now, he's backpedaling. Now he touched the ball away.

Speaker 4 (27:30):
He's gonna run.

Speaker 6 (27:31):
Now he's gonna throw payos check for the touchdown. Touchdown
forty nine Ers and Dog Beauty and the forty nine
ers are back in front and Brock is doing the
donkey again.

Speaker 2 (27:46):
What an absolute playground party play time for more or
less here on game debut. We've got some monster matchups
with huge playoff implications this weekend, so let's talk to
player props. In the biggest one, the Seahawks and the
Niners on Saturday Night, Cynthia, we'll see MC have more
or less than one hundred and twelve total yards from
script total total, not just rushing, just total.

Speaker 4 (28:10):
However, yards from scrimmage more.

Speaker 5 (28:13):
Yeah, I don't actually care who this is against. The
defense is really good for the Seahawks. But there's something
about Christian McCaffrey who should be the league's MVP. And
I'm not going to stop saying that because no one
will ever want and I don't have a frickin vote,
But if I did have a vote, that's who I
would vote for, because no other team has created more
of a wind share for their team this year than

(28:34):
Christian McCaffrey. But for him, the Niners wouldn't be in
this position.

Speaker 4 (28:38):
So Christian McCaffrey's gonna have more than that.

Speaker 2 (28:41):
Let's go look at who might get more maybe votes
than see. I'm seeing Jackson Smith and jig but one
hundred receiving yards does he get there?

Speaker 3 (28:47):
Well, let me check my note out there we got Sorry,
I'm trying to use these hands.

Speaker 4 (28:51):
Let's go more for Asn. Why not?

Speaker 3 (28:54):
It's the final week of the season and his transformation
into a guy that does not just work the deeper
parts of the field, but you can absolutely use him
over the middle like this. Tough catches tougher than people think.
This is where the weakness for the forty nine ers
offense is. I think they're not going to get greedy
timing routes. It's a lot of tens and twelves and

(29:17):
fourteens and JSM goes more.

Speaker 2 (29:19):
Yeah, I would use the green one because the green
one has a thumb and none imposable thumbs is what
makes us intrinsically human. Brock Party has been on fire.
Will he go for over two hundred and forty four
passing yards in this game? I believe that he will
because I think the forty nine ers might need to
throw a little bit. Maybe thisvolves into one of those
score fests like the one that they've had. Oh, I
don't know what feels like every single game they've played

(29:42):
this season, especially after Fred Warner and though the defense
gets hurt. So yeah, I've got more. We got more
on everything here in this game, it's expected to be
one of the highest scoring games of the week. Why
don't we take a look at the highest totals for
Week eighteen and it is the end of an era
with a number sitting at forty four. The Cincinnati Bengals
are not on this graphic, but the Dallas Cowboys are

(30:04):
there at the top fifty one and a half. As
we get to some quick picks here on game debut,
the Jets and the Bills Buffalo currently the seventh seed
in the AFC. They could rest some starters, do they
rest some starters? Are gonna win as well? Greg?

Speaker 4 (30:16):
Absolutely? Oh no, that Bills win this game. Easy. I
misunderstood the question.

Speaker 3 (30:25):
The Bills backups and Mitch Trubisky probably enter the game
at some point. Josh Allen's gonna want to start. But
the big story here, it's the last game at the Rose.

Speaker 4 (30:35):
He's not suiting up.

Speaker 3 (30:36):
But just think of all the incredible NFL moments that
have happened at this stadium. Some great like this Frank
Reich comeback, the greatest in postseason history. Just I can't
imagine a situation that crowd is gonna be insane.

Speaker 4 (30:53):
You could put anyone in this game for.

Speaker 3 (30:55):
The Buffalo Bills, and let's be real, their backups I
think are more talented and more cohesive and more well
coached than the Jets. Anyways, they're gonna win this game.
The emotion is gonna be electric there. And yeah, some
great moments in history of Buffalo.

Speaker 2 (31:09):
All right, the Raiders in this, like Jim Kelly's playing right,
Everybody's coming back there, Chiefs and Raiders. I do expect
a big part of Bill's history to be there. But
the Vegas loss would lock them into the number one
overall pick. Do they get the loss that they so
desperately deserve.

Speaker 4 (31:24):
I don't know.

Speaker 5 (31:25):
I don't think anyone wants to win this game. It's
not good for Kansas City either, because they could go
from like eight to twelve based on some things happening.
I do have them winning nineteen to eighteen, a real
barn burner for us all. I'm curious to see how
Ashton gent will fare in this one. I believe that
building around him is going to be a focal point
for this regime or whatever regime is their next going forward,

(31:45):
So evaluating the old line, evaluating who should still be there,
kind of building around Ashton genty, a guy they spent
so much more in terms of draft capital, that's going
to be a big focal point. No, Max Crosby, this
one too. Will also let them evaluate just every single position.
So I think this is a good learning experience. But
I think Kansasity, I'll look at us one point for
me and Greg and Lee for Patrick. You've got them crushing.

Speaker 4 (32:08):
We do not like a lot of points, No, we don't.

Speaker 5 (32:11):
We don't like points.

Speaker 2 (32:12):
And barn burner an appropriate analogy because the phrase originated
with the folks desired to burn an institution in order
to fit small problems like somebody lighting a barn on
fire to get rid of rats. The Bengals and the Browns.
Cleveland upset the Steelers last week, while since he has
won two games in a row the Battle for Ohio,
I've got the Bengals winning twenty three to twenty. But

(32:32):
I want to talk about Miles Geartt. He's been limited
to a half a sack in his last two games
on sixty one pass rushes. He's been chipped or double
teamed on twenty six of those pass rushes, famously one
away from the all time single season just kidding sacks
in the season where his compensation was a huge discussion.

Speaker 4 (32:47):
In terms of.

Speaker 2 (32:47):
Guarantees, he's number seventeen in the NFL. Fourteen players of
those ahead of him play quarterback. Every single one of
them that Miles Garrett has played this season, he's sacked.
All due respect to prime Time, the Minister of the Defense,
Aaron Donald, and yes, Greg jj Watt, Miles Garrett the
best I've seen play defense.

Speaker 5 (33:05):
Imagine how many sacks he would have if you run
a team that was playing.

Speaker 4 (33:08):
With the lead.

Speaker 2 (33:09):
It would be a lot more.

Speaker 4 (33:10):
He's done it in a lot fewer snaps.

Speaker 3 (33:12):
So that's why I don't want to hear anything about
the SAT teams week, and he's gotta get it.

Speaker 2 (33:16):
So about the number of games, unless, of course, you
play football, which you probably should be complaining about the
number of Dames is. Don't look now, but Saints Falcons
is one of the best games of the week. Both
teams are on heaters. Tyler Shuck might be legit and
if Atlanta wins, the Panthers are going to the playoffs
no matter what happens on Saturday. How bananas is that? All?

Speaker 1 (33:34):
That?

Speaker 2 (33:34):
More? Coming up on game Debut. Next back on game
debut is Sound for the Reid, presented by Microsoft co Pilot.
Microsoft co Pilot, your AI companion for NFL Game Day
and Every Day. We asked co Pilot to pick the
one player that could flip the momentum of the Saints

(33:55):
Falcons game, and co Pilot went with quarterback Tyler Shuck.
Mentions that the Saints offense has served with the rookie
under center, jumping to twenty seven point one point per
game over the last three weeks. Shuck has also been
successful in its downfield passing Saints and Falcons suddenly becomes interesting.
Atlanta shocked the Rams Monday night. While the Saints have
won four straight. If Atlanta wins, it would clinch the

(34:17):
NFC South for Carolina. So who gets the win here
or something?

Speaker 5 (34:22):
Well, Atlanta gets the win twenty three to twenty one,
which therefore means that the Panthers go to the playoffs.
So that's interesting. I just want to take a moment
talk about Bjon Robinson because what he did on a
really amazing game against the Rams in primetime. It just
goes to show that sometimes everything you know about football

(34:43):
can be wrong. Because we all thought that, not that
he wouldn't have a good game, but we thought that
the Rams would easily win this game, and they proved
us wrong. And part of that was because Jon Robinson
just totally took control of this game in many ways
the same he has in other games that maybe weren't
on in primetime or potentially the defense. I don't care,
but we maybe we need to give him a little

(35:05):
bit more love than we have been.

Speaker 2 (35:07):
Yes, significantly in terms of the MVP conversation and all that.
Winning goes into a whole lot, but there's only so
much you can do in a game where there's twenty
two guys on the field. I got the Falcons as
well twenty four to nineteen, just off of the surge
that has been the Falcons franchise once they've essentially been eliminated.
But look at what the defense was able to do
against Matthew Stafford, where Jesse Bates got back to his

(35:29):
turnover producing ways. Xavier Watts looked good in that game
where I know Tyler Shuck has been gifted. But the
opportunity for Kirk Cousins to turn around and handleball and
John Robbinson potentially get a touchdown and any give him
play not the same opportunity for Tyler Shuck from the
Saints offense games in Atlanta. I've got Atlanta here, great.

Speaker 3 (35:49):
I've got Atlanta too, But it's more about the spectacle.
This is the greatest rivalry in the NFL. The fans
truly hate each other. The NFC South is so stupid
as a division, and they're going to reach peaks stupidity
on Sunday when these two teams are playing by proxy
to decide a division championship that neither one of them

(36:11):
can win.

Speaker 4 (36:12):
It's the most Falcon Saints thing ever. And in the
middle of it there's all these great stories.

Speaker 3 (36:17):
Can Tyler Schuck get into the offseason on a big
winning streak and win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Speaker 4 (36:23):
I don't care how well he plays in this game.
I don't think you should win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
I've only played half the season. It's stupid. That's just
give you a.

Speaker 3 (36:30):
Word to t mac or Harrold Fannon or someone else.
I think it's a stupid idea. Rahie Morris is trying
to save his job.

Speaker 4 (36:38):
Night.

Speaker 3 (36:39):
We'll see if they lost a bad game for the Saints,
that could leave a bad impression. And man, I just
want the Bucks to win on Saturday to just set
up the situation where like Jason Light and the Bucks
are rooting for this Saints team that he was trash
talking on.

Speaker 4 (36:54):
Twitter earlier in the season.

Speaker 3 (36:57):
It's just a strange, messy division and if you love
mess ahead of the sea something.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
Yeah, perhaps these these NFL postseason awards are logically inconsistent.
Get some more quick picks here. On game debut, the
Cardinals and rams La was shocked Monday night in Atlanta.
The Sean mcvay's teams bounce back.

Speaker 4 (37:17):
For they do.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
Sean McVay says, they will play their starters in this game.
Now do they play all four quarters?

Speaker 4 (37:23):
We'll find out.

Speaker 3 (37:23):
Their running game will get it done no matter who
is back there. They're really well coached, so you can
only bench so many guys on the offensive line. You
only have so many guys who are even available to
play for you. So Kyrin Williams, Blake corm maybe they
get some carries in this game. I could see a
big Ronnie Rivers game. This Cardinals defense. Their season actually

(37:44):
ended a month ago. They just didn't tell anyone. They're
just giving up forty points a week.

Speaker 2 (37:48):
Team last one the Packers and the Surgeon Vikings. Green
Bay locked into the seventh seed. They could be resting
some of you guys. How's it go?

Speaker 5 (37:56):
I have green Bay keeping it very close, Minnesota only
winning by one nineteen. I just didn't think we could
get through this entire show and not talk about how
much whch money. Malik Willis made himself in for a
good reason last week. When I'm looking at the opportunity
in the offseason for teams to find quarterbacks, the fact
that Philip Rivers was playing this year tells you that
there aren't thirty two qualified people to do that in
the world. So I'm looking forward to what happens next

(38:20):
year for Malik Willis, a guy who kind of rehabbed
a situation, got into a better really put some good
film on tape here, and I just want to give
him some credit because it's not easy in that situation,
and he made it look easy.

Speaker 4 (38:31):
So there we go.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
Congratulations to Milik Willis. To go to the Cowboys and Giants,
Dak versus Dart. I've got the Cowboys winning twenty four
to twenty two and something. If you would like to
talk about somebody who has changed scenery, improved his circumstances,
and may see a significant financial boost, why don't we
introduce one. George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys having a
spectacular season, has more yards getting slants than anybody in

(38:54):
the NFL. But it's not just slams. It's the full
route tree. We've seen them everywhere on the field, and
despite one unfortunate Thursday night, George Pickens has played very
well all He's looking forward to what his coming.

Speaker 5 (39:05):
That last highlights onone's cell phone camera real shicky.

Speaker 2 (39:09):
You know, sometimes there's a lot going on the field.
Georgth Pickett's doing a lot of stuff. Maybe he actually
filmed that somehow because he doesn't run on the football field.
When we come back as time for write this down,
it's our favorite player prop for week sixteen. Don't forget
a lot of guys trying to get some bonus incentives
this weekend. So it's gonna be spicy, won't We have
a lineman.

Speaker 4 (39:29):
Getting in that's it. No no, no is Cody Ford
over half a yard.

Speaker 2 (39:34):
Yes, write this down when we come back on game debut.

Speaker 9 (39:46):
Here's the snap out of the gun play action fake
pastapro got Kowski. He's gonna score a touchdown, touchdown Tampa Bay,
Holy Groca Boli.

Speaker 2 (39:53):
He breaks the record.

Speaker 9 (39:54):
He's got his twenty third touchdown of the postseason from
Tom Brady.

Speaker 2 (39:58):
Here's the snap, Mahomes running to his right. Lookout. He
may run Mahomes directory.

Speaker 9 (40:02):
Battle ticked off the end zone box.

Speaker 2 (40:05):
Are gonna beat the Chief.

Speaker 9 (40:06):
Bucks Win, Bucks, Win, Bucks, win the Super Bowl fifty five,
and then a cannon cannon fire them, keep on firing them,
keep on firing them. Celebrate Buccaneer farsist that.

Speaker 2 (40:20):
Lombardi get a chance to call two Buccaneers super Bowls
over the thirty seven years he's been calling games with
the team. For gratulations to a great career for Gene Deckerhoff,
leading us in to write this down as we get
to our favorite player prop predictions for week eighteen.

Speaker 3 (40:36):
Want to start force until week eighteen is an opportunity.
You might see confusion, I see clarity, and I see
Ray Davis, a guy we've never mentioned on this show
the Buffalo Bills third string running back going over twenty
nine and a half rushing yards. Do you think they
want to use James Cook in this game against the Jets.
But do you think they're gonna lose? No, They're gonna
run the ball all over the Jets. Forget twenty nine

(40:58):
and a half. I could jack that up to about
eighty nine and a half. It's gonna be the Ray
Davis game. He covers this thing easy.

Speaker 5 (41:05):
Okay, So you got to the our producer before us.
So mine is a Derreck Henry touchdown against the Steelers.
Seems very likely to happy. I also wanted to add
an Aj Barner over thirty seven receiving yards because you
know the barnyard Dog is our favorite player on this show,
So add the little bonus.

Speaker 2 (41:22):
I am on a struggle BLUs right now. We'll write
this down. We're six total yards, keeping me for my
last two weeks and being successful, and write this down.
But I believe in Zach Sharbonek going over forty two
rushing yards against the forty nine Ers Sunday out the
out game, Kenneth Walker last week. He's done it a
few times this season. Greg shaking his head.

Speaker 3 (41:43):
Well, that's because I had Kenneth Walker last week and
he came off a few yards short.

Speaker 4 (41:47):
Yeah, I took it. That's right. Church rong pew. We're
back back around.

Speaker 2 (41:52):
We're back to faith.

Speaker 5 (41:53):
The universe loves you all.

Speaker 3 (41:54):
All I'm saying is you watch Derrick Henry running down
the field in a big time game, and you will
believe greater than yourself.

Speaker 2 (42:03):
Yeah, Derrick Henry is greater than me.

Speaker 4 (42:06):
And Pat more power. I can't wait for this game.

Speaker 2 (42:10):
It's great to be spending time with all of you guys.
Hopefully your New Years great. Thanks for watching game debut
for Cynthia and Greg on Patrick, We'll see you next time.

Speaker 1 (42:24):
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